Oncology Testing
Molecular diagnostic testing enhances cancer patient care by providing more sensitive
alternatives or aids to traditional testing. These can be used to establish or reinforce
diagnosis, predict the likelihood of cancers that will progress and thus need more
aggressive treatment, or identify patients that will respond to specific treatment
regimes. Asuragen continues research and development in microRNA-based diagnostic
cancer tests, similar to their
pancreatic adenocarcinoma test, which will be offered through our CLIA laboratory.
Asuragen KRAS and BRAF Laboratory developed tests (LDTs), validated in the CLIA
lab, are intended to be used and interpreted in conjunction with all other available
clinical and laboratory information when evaluating anti-EGFR treatment options
for colorectal cancer patients.
About miRNAs and Cancer
Several miRNAs has been found to have links with some types of cancer. By measuring
activity among 217 genes encoding miRNA, patterns of gene activity that can distinguish
types of cancers can be discerned. miRNA signatures may enable classification of
cancer. This will allow physicians to determine the original tissue type which spawned
a cancer and to be able to target a treatment course based on the original tissue
type. miRNA profiling has already been able to determine whether patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had slow
growing or aggressive forms of the cancer.[1]
In
genetics, microRNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded
RNA molecules
of about 21–23 nucleotides in length, which regulate gene expression. miRNAs are encoded by genes
that are transcribed from DNA but not translated into protein (non-coding RNA); instead they are
processed from primary transcripts known as pri-miRNA
to short
stem-loop structures called pre-miRNA and finally to functional
miRNA. Mature miRNA molecules are partially complementary to one
or more
messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, and their main function is to downregulate
gene expression.
1.Lu J, Getz G, Miska EA, et al (June 2005). "MicroRNA expression
profiles classify human cancers". Nature 435 (7043):
834–8. doi:10.1038/nature03702.
PMID 15944708.